Well packer



Nov. 15, 1938.. c. s. cRlcKMl-:R

WELL PACKER Filed July 7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l /6 ,Z5-lr@ Z0 ZO ze G Z7 Juve/who@ Cr/ckmer C har/es .5.

Nov; 15, 1938.

c. s. cRlcKMx-:R l 2,136,674

WELL PACKER Filed July 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 15, 1938PATENT OFFICE WELL PACKER.

' Charles S. Crlckmer, Dallas, Tex., assignor Vto Merla Tool Company,Dallas, Tex., a firm Application July '1,- isss, serial No. 211,960

10 Claims.

l This invention relates to new and useful improvements in' wellpackers.

One objectroff the invention is to provide an improved packer forvsealing 0E the annular space between a well tubing and a well casingand which is constructed so that it may be rapidly lowered through theliquid in the well casing, whereby it may be moved into position and setin a minimum length of time. l Another object of the invention is toprovide an improved well packer wherein are amplified passages fortay-passing' uid as the.V packer is loweredjtherethrough, the. passagesbeing arranged to be automatically closed when the packer is set intosealing position, whereby the usual 4metallic seat`and valve for closingthe by.

pass, together with the disadvantages of said v valve and seat areeliminated..

An important object -of the invention is to provide an improved wellpacker having a packingA element with' vertical channels orlpassagesformed in its inner wall, through which the uid may by-passwhen-theelement is in an undistorted or normal position; said passagesbeing closed when the element isdistorted into sealing position, wherebyclosure of the vby-pass is accomplished at the sametime that the elementis' moved into sealing position.

A further object of the invention is to proin an elongate packing sleeveis mounted on its support and has by-pass channels formedvin thewall ofits bore, the sleeve having a plurality of reinforcing'members embededtherein in spaced relation, whereby when the sleeve is distorted, thereinforcing memberscause distortion in such manner as to give thesealing effect of a plurality of superposed packingv elements; theprovision of the channels in the vwall of the bore of the sleevepermitting'distortion, in an -inward direction, whereby the inner wallof the sleeve is moved into sealing engagement with the'support and thechannels are closed when the sleeve is movedinto sealing position.`

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with Vother features of the invention. 1

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specica- 50' 'tionand by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein: YFigure 1 is a view, partly in section and partly l' in elevation of awell packer, constructed -in ac- 56 cox-dance with the invention andshowing the vide a device of the character described, where-- same in anunset position as itis lowered through the well tubing,

Figure 2 is a similar View within the packer in its set position,

Figure 3 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, 5 sectional view of thepacking element and its, associate parts,

Figure 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 4'-4of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, 10 taken on the line 5-5of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 6--6of Figure 1,

Figure '7 is a horizontal, cross-sectionalv view, taken on the line'l-'l of Figure ,1, and 15 Figure 8 is a horizontal, cross-sectionalView, taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 2.,- A L In the drawings, thenumeralV I0 designates an elongate tubular mandrel which is providedwith external screw threads at itsiupper and lower ends. The upper endof the mandrelis threaded into an elongate coupling collar il vwhich hasthe upper end of .its bore internally screw threaded at l2, whereby saidcollar may be connected to the well tubing A. 'I'he provision of thescrew threads at the v`lower end of the mandrel permit said mandrel tobe readily connected to the weiltubing A by the 'usual coupling collari3. A

The coupling collar Il `at the upper end of 30 the mandrel is enlargedat its lowerend to form av depending annular skirt i4. The inner diVameter or bore of the skirtfis greater than the outer diameter of themandrel lil, whereby an annular space i5 is formed between the skirt 35and the mandrel. 'I'heextremelower end of the skirtl I4 is reduced toforman annular lip` 1 6.

An elongate packing element or sleeve I1 surrounds the mandrel Illandhas its upper, reduced end conned within the lip lH5101 the skirt 40 i4.The wallvof th'e bore of said sleeve is pro-v. vided with aplurality ofvertical channels or grooves VI8 which extend throughout the en tirelength of the packing element, and, as is clearly shown in Figure 1, theupper ends of the channelslll communicate with theannular spacel5 Vwhichis formed between the skirt I4 and the mandrel l0. The lower end of thepacking element is reduced and conned within an upwardly extendingannular lip I9 which is formed at the upper end of a supporting cone 20.The

cone surrounds the mandrel and is slidable vertically thereon, beingsupported on an external annular shoulder 2l which isformed .on saidmandrel. The bore 20' on the cone 2D is enlarged at its upper portion,wherebyfan annular space 22 is formed between the bore of said cone andthe outer surface of the mandrel Ill. 'I'his annular space communicateswith thel lower end of the vvertical channels or passages I8 which areprovided on the inner wall of the packing element I1. With the abovearrangement, it

'will be manifest that a communication between the annular space 22within the cone 20 and the annular space I5 within the skirt I4 isestablished through the vertical chanels I8.

The packing element is conllned between the skirt I4 and the cone 20 andsaid element has a plurality of rings'23, preferably of metal, embeddedtherein. The rings are spaced throughout the vertical length of thepacking element or sleeve and serve not only to reinforce said elementbut also to cause the same to be distorted in such manner as to give theeifect of a plurality of packing elements, as will be explained. 'I'hepacking element I1A may be constructed of rubber, rubber compound orother flexible packing material.

For by-passing the fluid through the channels or grooves I8 of thepacking element, the cone 20 is formed with a plurality of radialopenings 24 which extend inwardly through the wall of the cone and whichcommunicate with the annular space -22 at the upper portion of the boreof said cone. The annular skirt I4 at the upper end of the packingelement is also formed with a plurality of radial openings which extendthrough the skirt and which communicate with the annular space I5 withinsaid skirt. It is preferable that the openings 25 be inclined so l thatthe flow therethrough is directed upwardly. With this arrangement, whenthe device is lowered into a well casing B and through the well fluidstanding therein, said well fluid may flow through the ports or openings24and into the annular space 22, from where it may flow upwardly throughthe channels or grooves I8 provided o`n the inner wall of the packingelement I1. From the channels I8, the fluid enters the annular space I5and then escapes through the inclined opening 25 in the skirt. In thismanner, it is manifest that the well fluid may readily by-pass thepacking element when the same is in a normal, or undistorted position.

Any suitable means may be employed for setting the device within thewell casing B, but for purposes of illustration, a plurality of grippingslips 26 are shown. The slips are slidable on the outer surface of thecone 20 and any desired number may be employed. Each slip ls can'ied bya flexible member 21 which has its upper end engaged in a recess 26'provided in the rear face of the slip. This upper end of the supportingmember 21A is pivotally secured to the slip by a pin 28. The supportingmember extends downwardly from theslip and is pivoted on a pin 29 whichis located within a slot 30 formed in the upper end of an elongatesleeve 3l, which sleeve is separate from the cone 20 and is slidable onthe mandrel I0. 'I'he lower end of the supporting member 21 engages thecurved lower end 30' of its respective' slot 3l). A plurality of hatfriction springs 32 are mounted on the elongate sleeve 3| and have theirouter surfaces curved so as to engage the wall of the well casing B.

For connecting the sleeve 3l to the mandrel III so that said mandrel andsleeve will move simultaneously and also for holding the slips 26 at thelower end of the cone 20 in a retracted position, said sleeve is formedwith an inverted J-slot 33.

A radial pin 34 extends outwardly from the mandrei and is arranged toengage within the slot 33. When the pin is engaged in the horizontal leg33 of the J-slot, the sleeve is in such position with relation to thecone 20, that the slips 26 are held in their lowermost position on saidcone (Figure 1), wherebysaid slips are retracted from the wall of thewell casing.

In the operation of the device, the mandrel I0 is connected in the welltubing A and is lowered therewith through the Well casing B. The cone 20is supported on the external shoulder 2l and the packing element is inthe position shown in Figures 1 and 3, which is its normal undistortedposition. 'I'he slips 26 are in their retracted position being held soby the engagement of the radial pin 34 in the J-slot 33 of the sleeve3|. As explained, the slips are connected to the sleeve 3| by thesupporting member 21. As the device is lowered through the well casingB, the parts maintain their same relative position and the well fluidwhich may be present in the casing may readily by-pass the packingelement I1. This by-passing occurs not only around the exterior of thepacking element but also through the openings 24 of the cone and throughthe vertical channels I8 formed on the inner surface of the packingelement. From the channels I8 the well uid passes upwardly through theinclined ports 25 in the skirt I4 and then upwardly in the casing abovethe packing element. By providing the by-pass channels I8, there ispractically no resistance oifered by the well fluid as the device islowered into the well casing B.

When the point that it is desired to set the packer is reached, it isonly necessary to rotate the mandrel I0 in a counterclockwise directionso that the pin 34 on the mandrel I0 will ride out of the horizontal leg33' of the J-slot 33 and into alinement with the vertical leg thereof.When 'this occurs, a continued lowering of the mandrel will cause thepin to ride downwardly through the vertical leg of the J-slot. At thistime the sleeve 3|, as well as, the slips 26 which are fastened theretoby means of the members 21 lare held stationary by the friction springs32. Therefore, as the mandrel and cone 20 carried thereby, packingelement I1 and the collar II, move downwardly with relation to thesleeve 3I and slips 26, it will be obvious that the slips will be movedupwardly with relation to the cone 26. Continued downward movement ofthe cone through the slips causes a radial expansion of said slips,whereby the same are moved into engagement with the inner wall of thewell casing B.

When lthe slips move into their gripping position, as shown in Figure 2,it will be obvious that further downward movement of the packing elementI1 which is supported in the cone is also prevented. Therefore, acontinued downward movement of the mandrel I0 will cause the shoulder 2Ito move away from the lower end of the cone 20 and at the same time theskirt I4 which is fastened to the upper end of the mandrel movesdownwardly with said mandrel thereby exerting a pressure on the upperend of the packing element I1. 'I'he weight of the mandrel I0, as wellas the weight of the tubing string A is transferred to the upper end ofthe packing element I1 through the skirt I4 and this weight isvsufficient to distort the packing element into the position shown inFigure 2. Upon distortion, the outer surface of the packing element I1moves into engagement with the wall of the well casing B, while theinner surface of said packing element moves into engagement with theouter surface of the mandrel IIl. In other words, when a pressure isapplied to the upper end ofthe element the same will be distorted inboth directions radially and the channels I8 on the inner surface of thepacking element will be attened out, as shown in Figure 8. 'I'hisdistortion of the packing element will cause the channels I8 to beclosed. whereby fluid cannot pass upwardly through said. channels. Withsuch arrangement when the packing element moves to its packing positionall by-pass of fluid past said element is prevented. It is noted thatthe provision of the Vspaced metallic ring 23 causes the element to bedistorted as shown in Figure 2, wherebythe ef- I pass channels I8 'areautomatically closed when the packer is moved to a set position. Thebypass channels are formed in the packing element itself therebyeliminating the necessity of forming an auxiliary by-pass for the fluid.The construction vof the device is Very` simple and includes a minimumnumberof parts. It may be readily set at any desired point within thewell casing and may be easily removed by merely lifting the mandrel andengaging the pin 34 in the horizontal leg 33 of the J-slot 33,. Whenthis is done,

the slips 26 have been retracted from the wall of the casing and theentire device may be removed from said casing. One of the features ofthe invention is the provision of the by-pass,Y channels Which areformed within the packing element itself and whichl are arranged to beautomatically closed when the packing element is distorted into apacking position.

The foregoing description oi the invention is explanatory thereofand-various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well asin thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A well packer including, a support, an annular packing element havingvertical 'channels whereby the inner wall of the element moves intoengagement with the support to close the by-pass channels.

3. A well packer including, a support, an annular flexible packingelement mounted on the support and having a plurality of verticalchannels in the wall of its bore for by-passing fluid through theelement, means for applying a pressure to the support to distort thevsame radially in both an inward and outward direction, whereby theinner wall of the element moves into engagement with the support toclose the by-pass channels, and a plurality of rings embedded within theelement in spaced relation for reinforcing said element and also forcausing the same to distort in such manner as to give the sealing effectof a plurality of superimposed rings.

4; A well packing including, a tubular mandrel, a cone slidable on themandrel, an annular confining collar secured to the upper end of themandrel, a flexible packing element surrounding the mandrel and confinedbetween the cone and collar, said element having a vertical channel inthe wall of its bore, the cone and collar having openings therein whichestablish communication bei tween the space. exteriorly of the packingelement and the passage, whereby when the element is undistorted fluidmay flow through the openingsvand channels to by-pass the element, andmeans for distorting the element radially whereby the inner, wall oflsaid element contacts the mandrel to close the channel.

5.-- A well packing including, a tubular mandrel,

a cone slidable on the mandrel, an annular conning collar secured to theupper end of the mandrel, a flexible packing element surrounding themandrel and confined between the c one and collar, said element having avertical channel in the wall of its bore, the cone and collarhavingopenings therein which establish communication be- `l tween thespace exteriorly of the packing element and the passage, whereby whenthe element is undistorted fluid may flow through the openings' andchannel to by-pass the element, andmeans for locking the cone againstmovement in a wellv casing whereby the weight of the mandrel may beplaced on the packing element to distortthe same radially and engage theinner Wall of the element with the mandrel to close the passage. 6. Awell packing including, 'a tubular mandrel, a cone slidablel on themandrel, an annular con-` .finingcollar secured to the upper end of themandrel, a flexible packing element. surrounding the mandrel andconfined between the cone and collar, said element having' a Verticalchannel in the wall of its bore, lthe cone and collar having openingstherein which establish communication between the space exteriorly ofthe packing element and the passage, whereby when the element isundistorted fluid may flow through the openings and channel to by-passthe element, means for distorting the element radially whereby the innerwall of said element contacts the mandrel to close the channel, andreinforcing means embedded within the packing element for causing theelement to be distorted unevenly throughout its vertical length wherebythe element produces the sealing effect of a plurality of superimposedsealing rings.

7. A well packing including, a tubular mandrel, a cone slidable on themandrel, an annular con- 'fining collar secured to the upper end of themandrel, a iexible packing element surrounding the -mandrel and confinedbetween the cone and co1- lar, said element having a vertical channel inthe wall of its bore, the cone and collar having open-- ings thereinwhich establish communication be- .tween the space exteriorly of thepacking element and the passage, whereby whenv the element isundistorted uid may flow through the openings and channelto 'ny-pass theelement, means for locking the cone against movement in a well casingwhereby the weight of the mandrel may be placed on the packing elementto distort the same of superimposed sealing rings.

k element produces the sealing effect o1' a plurality 8. As asub-combination in a well packer, an elongate exible packing elementhaving a bore and also having a plurality of vertical channels extendingthroughout its length and disposed in the wall of said bore. y

9. As a sub-combination in a Well packer, an elongate flexible packingelement having a bore and also having a plurality of vertical channelsextending throughout its length and disposed in io the wall of saidbore, and a plurality of metallic

